Indexing system for an in ovo injection apparatus, and associated method

ABSTRACT

An indexing system for an in ovo injection apparatus is provided. Such an indexing system provides a positioning scheme for an egg carrier carrying a plurality of avian eggs to an injection assembly for injection thereof. The indexing system includes an initial stop provided to abut the trailing end of the egg carrier to form a first egg carrier position such that a first subset of the plurality of avian eggs is injected. An intermediate stop is provided to abut the trailing end of the egg carrier to form a second egg carrier position such that a second subset of the plurality of avian eggs is injected. An associated method is also provided.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to in ovo injection of avianeggs. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an indexingsystem implemented on a manually operated in ovo injection apparatus,and an associated method.

BACKGROUND

Injections of various substances into avian eggs is commonly referred toas in ovo injection. Such injections have been employed to decreasepost-hatch mortality rates, increase the potential growth rates oreventual size of the resulting bird, and even to influence the genderdetermination of the embryo. Similarly, injections of antigens into liveeggs have been employed to incubate various substances used in vaccineswhich have human or animal medicinal or diagnostic applications.Examples of substances that have been used for, or proposed for, in ovoinjection include vaccines, antibiotics and vitamins. In addition,removal of material from avian eggs has been employed for variouspurposes, such as testing and vaccine harvesting.

An egg injection apparatus (i.e., in ovo injection apparatus) maycomprise a plurality of injection devices which operate simultaneouslyor sequentially to inject a plurality of eggs. The injection apparatusmay comprise an injection head which comprises the injection devices,and wherein each injection device is in fluid communication with asource containing a treatment substance to be injected. In ovo injectionof substances (as well as in ovo extraction of materials) typicallyoccurs by piercing an egg shell to form an opening (e.g., via a punch),extending an injection needle through the hole and into the interior ofthe egg (and in some cases into the avian embryo contained therein), andinjecting treatment substance(s) through the needle and/or removingmaterial therefrom.

An in ovo injection apparatus conventionally is designed to operate inconjunction with commercial egg carrier carriers or flats. Egg flatsutilized in conjunction with an in ovo injection apparatus typicallycontain an array of pockets that are configured to support a respectiveplurality of avian eggs in a generally upright orientation. The eggsflats may be typically transported through the in ovo injectionapparatus via an automated conveyor system having sensors and otherautomated control devices for registering the egg flat beneath theinjection head for injection of the eggs carried by the egg flat. Thesecontrol systems present an increased cost for manufacture of anautomated in ovo injection apparatus capable of providing highthroughput and reduced headcount for operation thereof.

However, in some instances, an automated in ovo injection apparatus maynot be practical for use by a customer. Thus, in such instances, amanually operated in ovo injection apparatus without an automatedconveyor system for transporting the egg flats through the in ovoinjection apparatus may be suitable as an alternative to the automatedin ovo injection apparatus. Issues with a manually operated in ovoinjection apparatus may arise when an egg flat carries a quantity ofeggs greater than the number of injection devices forming the injectionhead (e.g., an egg flat having 150 pockets and an injection head having50 injection devices). In this regard, the operator must position theegg flat at multiple injection positions beneath the injection head inorder to inject all of the eggs carried by the egg flat. That is, theinjection head must be actuated at least more than one time to providemultiple injection events to a single egg flat in some instances.Requiring the operator to manually position the egg flat at multipleinjection positions can lead to errors such as, for example,misalignment of the needles and eggs (may lead to bend injectionneedles, which creates apparatus downtime), missing the eggs entirely(e.g., injecting at interstitial sites between adjacent eggs), andmultiple injections of the same eggs.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide an indexing system for usewith an in ovo injection apparatus lacking an automated conveyor systemfor transporting eggs flats therethough, so as to ensure properpositioning of egg flats beneath an injection head at multiple injectionpositions. Furthermore, it would be desirable to provide an associatedmethod that would facilitate high throughput of in ovo injectionsimplemented by an in ovo injection apparatus lacking an automatedconveyor system for transporting eggs flats therethough, while reducingoperator errors associated therewith.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The above and other needs are met by embodiments of the presentdisclosure which, according to one aspect, provides an in ovo injectionapparatus capable of injecting a plurality of avian eggs carried by anegg carrier having a leading end and a trailing end. The apparatuscomprises an injection assembly having a plurality of injection devices,each injection device being configured to inject a respective avian eggwhen in alignment therewith. The apparatus further comprises an indexingsystem configured to provide a positioning scheme for an egg carriercarrying a plurality of avian eggs to the injection assembly forinjection thereof. The indexing system includes an initial stopconfigured to abut the trailing end of the egg carrier to form a firstegg carrier position such that a first subset of the plurality of avianeggs is in alignment with the respective injection devices for injectionthereof. An intermediate stop is configured to abut the trailing end ofthe egg carrier to form a second egg carrier position such that a secondsubset of the plurality of avian eggs is in alignment with therespective injection devices for injection thereof.

Another aspect provides a method of advancing an egg carrier through anin ovo injection apparatus for injection of a plurality of avian eggscarried by the egg carrier. The method comprises engaging an egg carrierwith an indexing system of an in ovo injection apparatus, the eggcarrier having a leading end and a trailing end. The method furthercomprises abutting the trailing end of the egg carrier against aninitial stop of the indexing system. The method further comprisesinjecting a first subset of the plurality of avian eggs via an injectionassembly of the in ovo injection apparatus. The method further comprisesadvancing the egg carrier along a carrier slide path defined by theindexing system such that the leading end of the egg carrier interactswith a pivot abutment member projecting into the carrier slide path soas to rotate the pivot abutment member out of the carrier slide path,thereby allowing the egg carrier to move therepast. The pivot abutmentmember is biased to rotate back into the carrier slide path after thetrailing end of the egg carrier moves therepast so as to form anintermediate stop of the indexing system. The method further comprisesabutting the trailing end of the egg carrier against the intermediatestop. The method further comprises injecting a second subset of theplurality of avian eggs via the injection assembly.

Yet another aspect provides an in ovo injection apparatus capable ofinjecting a plurality of avian eggs carried by an egg carrier having aleading end and a trailing end. The apparatus comprises an injectionassembly having a plurality of injection devices, each injection devicebeing configured to inject a respective avian egg when in alignmenttherewith. The apparatus further comprises an indexing system configuredto provide a positioning scheme for an egg carrier carrying a pluralityof avian eggs to the injection assembly for injection thereof. Theindexing system includes a carrier slide frame forming a carrier slidepath, and a pivotable stop device having a pivot abutment memberprojecting into the carrier slide path such that a leading end of theegg carrier is capable of interacting with and rotating the pivotabutment member out of the carrier slide path, thereby allowing the eggcarrier to move therepast. The pivot abutment member is biased to rotateback into the carrier slide path after a trailing end of the egg carriermoves therepast.

Thus, various aspects of the present disclosure provide advantages, asotherwise detailed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Having thus described various embodiments of the present disclosure ingeneral terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings,which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of an in ovo injection apparatuswith an egg carrier positioned at an initial injection position by anindexing system, according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of an in ovo injection apparatuswith an egg carrier positioned at an intermediate injection position byan indexing system, according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of an in ovo injection apparatuswith an egg carrier positioned at a terminal injection position by anindexing system, according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of a carrier slide frame with an eggcarrier abutting an initial stop of an indexing system for an in ovoinjection apparatus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a carrier slide frame with an eggcarrier abutting an intermediate stop of an indexing system for an inovo injection apparatus, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of a carrier slide frame with an eggcarrier abutting a terminal stop of an indexing system for an in ovoinjection apparatus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of a carrier slide frame with anegg carrier abutting an initial stop of an indexing system for an in ovoinjection apparatus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of a carrier slide frame with anegg carrier abutting an intermediate stop of an indexing system for anin ovo injection apparatus, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view of a carrier slide frame with anegg carrier abutting a terminal stop of an indexing system for an in ovoinjection apparatus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 10 is another schematic perspective view of a carrier slide framewith an egg carrier abutting a terminal stop of an indexing system foran in ovo injection apparatus, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are perspective views of a carrier slide frame of anindexing system for an in ovo injection apparatus, according to oneaspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 13 is a partial schematic view of an indexing system implementing apivotable stop device having a pivot abutment member shown in a fullyprojected position, according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 14 is a partial schematic view of an indexing system implementing apivotable stop device having a pivot abutment member shown in apartially refracted position, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 15 is a partial schematic view of an indexing system implementing apivotable stop device having a pivot abutment member shown in a fullyretracted position, according to one aspect of the present disclosure;

FIGS. 16 and 17 are partial schematic views of an indexing system for anin ovo injection apparatus, according to one aspect of the presentdisclosure;

FIGS. 18-20 are schematic perspective views of a pivot device of anindexing system for an in ovo injection apparatus, according to oneaspect of the present disclosure;

FIG. 21 is a schematic perspective view of a pivot abutment member of apivotable stop device implemented in an indexing system for an in ovoinjection apparatus, according to one aspect of the present disclosure;and

FIG. 22 is a schematic perspective view of a base member and a biasingmember operably engaged therewith of a pivotable stop device implementedin an indexing system for an in ovo injection apparatus, according toone aspect of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Various aspects of the present disclosure now will be described morefully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in whichsome, but not all aspects of the disclosure are shown. Indeed, thisdisclosure may be embodied in many different forms and should not beconstrued as limited to the aspects set forth herein; rather, theseaspects are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicablelegal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.

An in ovo injection apparatus 10 is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. Theillustrated apparatus 10 includes a frame 15 and an injection assembly20 movably attached thereto. The injection assembly 20 includes aplurality of injection devices 25 having needles associated therewith inaccordance with known techniques for delivering a substance to avianeggs. The injection devices 25 may be arranged to form an injection head30 capable of moving in a substantially vertical direction to injectavian eggs positioned therebeneath after being transported in adirection substantially perpendicular to the vertical direction oftravel of the injection head 30. The illustrated injection head 30includes fifty (50) injection devices 25. In ovo injection of substances(as well as in ovo extraction of materials) typically occurs by piercingan egg shell to form an opening (e.g., via a punch), extending aninjection needle through the hole and into the interior of the egg (andin some cases into the avian embryo contained therein), and injectingtreatment substance(s) through the needle and/or removing materialtherefrom.

The apparatus 10 may be configured to receive an egg carrier (e.g., anegg flat) 100 that supports avian eggs for transport. The illustratedegg carrier 100 is configured to hold a plurality of avian eggs in asubstantially upright position so as to provide external access topredetermined areas of the eggs. Specifically, each egg can be contactedby the injection devices 25 from above the egg carrier 100. Each egg isheld by the egg carrier 100 so that a respective end thereof is inproper alignment relative to a corresponding one of the injectiondevices 25. The egg carrier 100 may include an array of receptacles 105configured to support a respective plurality of eggs in a generallyupright orientation, as shown in FIGS. 4-10. The illustrated egg carrier100 includes a plurality of rows of receptacles 105. Each receptacle 105may be configured to receive one end of a respective egg so as tosupport the egg in a substantially vertical position. The illustratedegg carrier 100 is capable of carrying one hundred and fifty (150) eggs.The egg carrier 100 may include a leading end 110, a trailing end 115,and a pair of sides cooperating to form a generally rectangularstructure. However, the egg carrier 100 may have any size, shape ordimensions and modifications of the present disclosure may be configuredto accommodate such variations. The leading end 110 of the egg carrier100 is the portion thereof that first moves beneath the injection head30 with respect to the trailing end 115 when the egg carrier advances ina first direction 200. The trailing end is the last portion of the eggcarrier 100 to pass beneath the injection head 30 when the egg carrier100 is advanced in the first direction 200.

As previously described, in some instances, a single egg carrier 100 mayinclude an amount of receptacles 105 greater than the number ofinjection devices 25 provided on the injection head 30. For example, asillustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the egg carrier 100 includes one hundred andfifty (150) receptacles, while the injection head 30 includes fifty (50)injection devices 25. In such instances, the quantity of eggs carriedand transported by the single egg carrier 100 is also greater than thenumber of injection devices 25 provided on the injection head 30. Assuch, for this particular example, the injection head 30 would need tointeract with the egg carrier 100 three times (i.e., three injectionevents) in order to have each egg within the egg carrier 100 injectedwith a substance, assuming each receptacle 105 contained an egg. In thisregard, the egg carrier 100 would need to be moved to three differentpositions beneath the injection head 30 such that each egg in the eggcarrier 100 is injected, and only injected once. This three positionscheme is illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 for the entire in ovo injectionapparatus 10, while FIGS. 4-9 illustrate the same three position schemeby depicting only a portion of the apparatus 10. While the presentdisclosure refers to a three position scheme, it will be understood thatthe disclosure is not limited to such and that any number of injectionpositions can be determined as dependent upon the number of receptacles105 forming the egg carrier 100 and the number of injection devices 25.As previously mentioned, injection errors may occur when the multipleinjection positioning of the egg carrier 100 is performed manually by anoperator. That is, errors such as misalignment of the needles and eggs(may lead to bent injection needles, which creates apparatus downtime),missing the eggs entirely (e.g., injecting at interstitial sites betweenadjacent eggs), and multiple injections of the same eggs can occur.

Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an indexing system 300capable of reducing operator errors associated with manually advancingthe egg carrier 100 through the apparatus 10 for multiple injectionevents of a single egg carrier 100 by ensuring consistently properadvancement and positioning of the egg carrier 100 beneath the injectionhead 30 for egg carriers 100 requiring multiple injection positions. Inother words, the indexing system 300 may be configured to provide apositioning scheme for positioning the egg carrier 100 at appropriateinjection positions during advancement thereof through the apparatus 10,as shown in FIGS. 1-9. For example, assuming an injection head 30 offifty (50) injection devices 25 and an egg carrier 100 of one hundredand fifty (150) receptacles 105, the egg carrier 100 may be initiallypositioned at an initial injection position for injection of a firstsubset of eggs carried by the egg carrier 100 (e.g., five rows of eggs(fifty eggs) starting from the leading end 110 of the egg carrier 100),as illustrated in FIGS. 1, 4 and 7. The egg carrier 100 may then bemanually advanced to an intermediate injection position for injection ofa second subset of eggs (the next five rows of eggs (fifty eggs)), asillustrated in FIGS. 2, 5 and 8. Finally, the egg carrier 100 may thenbe manually advanced to a terminal injection position for injection of athird subset of eggs (the last five rows of eggs (fifty eggs)), asillustrated in FIGS. 3, 6 and 9. As previously mentioned, there may beany number of injection positions as dependent upon the number ofinjection devices 25 and the number of receptacles 105 provided.

In order to create the positioning scheme, the indexing system 300 mayinclude a plurality of stops for limiting movement of the egg carrier100 in a given direction, thereby allowing the operator to consistentlyposition the egg carrier 100 manually in the appropriate injectionspositions for the series of injection events when advancing the eggcarrier 100 through the apparatus 10. According to one aspect of thepresent disclosure, the indexing system 300 may include a carrier slideframe 305 fixed, connected, or attached to (or otherwise operablyengaged with) the frame 15. The carrier slide frame 305 may beconfigured to receive and constrain the egg carrier 100 therewithin suchthat the egg carrier 100 may be manually slid by an operator along thecarrier slide frame 305 through the apparatus 10. A carrier slide path310 may be defined by the carrier slide frame 305, wherein the eggcarrier 100 moves along the carrier slide path 310 from the initialinjection position to the final injection position, regardless of thenumber of intermediate injection positions. According to one aspect, thecarrier slide frame 305 may include a pair of side rails 315 forlaterally constraining the egg carrier 100 and a plurality of supportrails 320 for supporting a bottom of the egg carrier 100 and limitingthe twisting action of the egg carrier 100 within the carrier slide path310, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. Each side rail 315 may include a lip370 on which the bottom portion of the egg carrier 100 sits whenpositioned within the carrier slide frame 305. That is, the sides of theeggs carrier 100 may engage the lips 370 so as to provide a slidingcontact portion.

An initial stop 325 may be provided or otherwise positioned at a firstend 330 of the carrier slide frame 305 so as to limit travel of the eggcarrier 100 in a second direction 250 opposite the first direction 200,thus creating the initial injection position. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7,the trailing end 115 of the egg carrier 100 abuts the initial stop 325such that the egg carrier 100 cannot be advanced in the second direction250. In this manner, the operator may be assured that the egg carrier100 is in the appropriate position for an initial injection event toinject the first subset of eggs.

Similarly, a terminal stop 335 may be provided or otherwise positionedat a second end 340 of the carrier slide frame 305 so as to limit travelof the egg carrier 100 in the first direction 200, thus creating theterminal injection position. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 9, the leading end110 of the egg carrier 100 abuts the terminal stop 335 such that the eggcarrier 100 cannot be advanced in the first direction 200. In thismanner, the operator may be assured that the egg carrier 100 is in theappropriate position for a terminal injection event to inject the thirdsubset of eggs.

The initial and terminal stops 325, 335 may include one or more abutmentmembers 350 extending into the carrier slide path 310 to restrictadvancement of the egg carrier 100 in the respective first or seconddirection 200, 250. According to one aspect, each of the initial andterminal stops 325, 335 may include a pair of the abutment members 350opposably positioned on the side rails 315, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.In some instances, the abutment members 350 of the initial and/orterminal stops 325, 335 may be fixedly engaged with the side rails 315.For example, each of the abutment members 350 may comprise a 90° bracketfixedly attached to one of the side rails 315 such that a portionthereof extends outward from the side rail 315 in a substantiallyperpendicular orientation with respect to a major vertical plane definedby the side rail 315. In other instances, the abutment members 350 maybe movably engaged with the carrier slide frame 305.

According to aspects of the present disclosure, the indexing system 300may include at least one intermediate stop 400. Each intermediate stop400 may be used to create an intermediate injection position between theinitial and terminal injection positions. The intermediate stop 400 maybe provided or otherwise positioned between the first and second ends330, 340 of the carrier slide frame 305 so as to limit travel of the eggcarrier 100 in the second direction 250, thus creating the intermediateinjection position. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, the trailing end 115 ofthe egg carrier 100 abuts the intermediate stop 400 such that the eggcarrier 100 cannot be advanced in the second direction 250. In thismanner, the operator may be assured that the egg carrier 100 is in theappropriate position for an intermediate injection event to inject thesecond subset of eggs.

As shown in FIGS. 13-15, according to some aspects of the presentdisclosure, the intermediate stop 400 may include a pivot abutmentmember 405 extending into the carrier slide path 310. In this regard,the pivot abutment member 405 may be configured to pivot out of thecarrier slide path 310 along an arcuate pivot path 500 to a fullyretracted position when interacting with the egg carrier 100 beingadvanced in the first direction 200, as shown in FIGS. 4, 7 and 15(without egg carrier 100). The pivot abutment member 405 may be furtherconfigured to lock in the carrier slide path 310 in a non-pivotingmanner at a fully projected position when interacting with the eggcarrier 10 moving in the second direction 250, once the trailing end 115of the egg carrier 100 has moved past the intermediate stop 400, asshown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 13 (without egg carrier 100). In this manner,the egg carrier 100 may be restricted from moving in the seconddirection 250 once moving past the intermediate stop 400, therebyproviding the abutment for creating the intermediate injection position.FIG. 14 illustrates the pivot abutment member 405 in a partiallyretracted position.

According to an aspect of the present disclosure, the intermediate stop400 may include a pivotable stop device 410 of which the pivot abutmentmember 405 forms a portion thereof, as shown in FIGS. 18-22. In someinstances, the pivotable stop device 410 may include a base member 415operably engaged with the pivot abutment member 405 and capable of beingfixed, attached, or otherwise connected to the carrier slide frame 305(e.g., the side rails 315), as shown in FIGS. 16 and 17. The pivotablestop device 410 may include a biasing member 420 (e.g., a spring) forcreating the pivoting mechanism associated therewith, as shown in FIGS.16, 19 and 22. In this regard, the pivot abutment member 405, thebiasing member 420, and the base member 415 may be assembled in a mannerthat creates a pivoting action capable of being implemented inaccordance with the present disclosure so as to facilitate theintermediate stop 400 and the associated intermediate injectionposition. In some instances, one or more spacers 425 may be used tocreate spacing between the base member 415 and the pivot abutment member405, to allow for the biasing member 420. An appropriate fastener 430may be provided to couple the base member 415 and the pivot abutmentmember 405. The pivot abutment member 405 may include a projectingportion 435 configured to extend into the carrier slide path 310 througha slot 360 defined by the side rails 315. The pivot abutment member 405may be configured such that pivoting thereof may occur in the firstdirection 200, but not in the second direction 250. That is, the pivotabutment member 405 may be restricted from pivoting along an arcuatepath opposite that of the arcuate pivot path 500, to provide thepreviously described stop mechanism.

In some instances, in order to position the egg carrier 100 in theinitial injection position, the leading end 110 of the egg carrier 100may interact with the intermediate stop 400 so as to allow the eggcarrier 100 to be positioned within the carrier slide path 310. In theillustrated embodiment, the egg carrier 100 may be inserted at an anglewith respect to the carrier slide path 310 such that the leading end 110is first positioned in the carrier slide frame 305 between the initialstop 325 and the intermediate stop 400. The leading end 110 may then beadvanced to interact with the intermediate stop 400 so as to pivot thepivot abutment member 405 out of the carrier slide path 310 such thatthe egg carrier 100 may be fully received within the carrier slide frame305 by lowering the trailing end 115 into the carrier slide path 310, asshown in FIG. 4. The operator may then move the egg carrier 100 in thesecond direction 250 such that the trailing end 115 abuts the initialstop 325, thereby ensuring the correct positioning of the egg carrier100 for the initial injection event. After the initial injection event,the operator may advance the trailing end 115 past the intermediate stop400 in the first direction 200 such that the pivot abutment member 405pivots into the carrier slide path 310 to its locked position. Theoperator may then move the egg carrier 100 in the second direction 250such that the trailing end 115 abuts the intermediate stop 400 (i.e.,pivot abutment member 405), thereby ensuring the correct positioning ofthe egg carrier 100 for the intermediate injection event. After theintermediate injection event, the operator may advance the egg carrier100 such that the leading end 110 abuts the terminal stop 335, therebyensuring the correct positioning of the egg carrier 100 for the terminalinjection event. After the terminal injection event, the operator or acoworker may remove the egg carrier 100 from the carrier slide frame 305and the apparatus 10.

Many modifications and other aspects of the present disclosure set forthherein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which thisdisclosure pertains having the benefit of the teachings presented in theforegoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is tobe understood that the present disclosure is not to be limited to thespecific aspects disclosed and that modifications and other aspects areintended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Forexample, it will be understood that more than one pivotable stop device410 may be implemented as part of the indexing system 300 such thatmultiple intermediate injection positions may be provided. In addition,the intermediate stop 400 may, in some instances, actually create afinal or terminal stop position. That is, in some instances, only twoinjection events may be needed for the egg carrier 100 such that onlytwo injection positions are needed to entirely inject the eggs carriedby the egg carrier 100. In such instances, the initial stop 325 mayprovide a first stop for the egg carrier 100, as previously described,while the intermediate stop 325 forms or otherwise provides a second orfinal stop. In this regard, the term “intermediate” as referring to thestops is not limited to only providing a stop or stop position disposedbetween the initial stop 325 and the terminal stop 335. According tosuch aspects, the terminal stop 335 may not be present or otherwiseprovided on such apparatuses 10. Furthermore, the present disclosurerefers to injection into the avian eggs, but may also include extractionof a substance from the eggs. In this manner, the indexing system 300may operate in the same or a similar manner as previously described soas to position the avian eggs for substance extraction. Althoughspecific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic anddescriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.

That which is claimed:
 1. An in ovo injection apparatus capable ofinjecting a plurality of avian eggs carried by an egg carrier having aleading end and a trailing end, the apparatus comprising: an injectionassembly having a plurality of injection devices, each injection devicebeing configured to inject a respective avian egg when in alignmenttherewith; and an indexing system configured to provide a manualpositioning scheme for an egg carrier carrying a plurality of avian eggsto the injection assembly for injection thereof, the indexing systemcomprising: a carrier slide frame defining a carrier slide path andbeing configured to receive and constrain the egg carrier carrying theplurality of avian eggs; an initial stop configured to abut the trailingend of the egg carrier to form an initial egg carrier position such thata first subset of the plurality of avian eggs is in alignment with therespective injection device for injection thereof, the initial stopcomprising an abutment member fixedly positioned at a forward end of thecarrier slide frame; and an intermediate stop configured to abut thetrailing end of the egg carrier to form an intermediate egg carrierposition such that a second subset of the plurality of avian eggs is inalignment with the respective injection devices for injection thereof,the intermediate stop comprising a pivot stop device having a pivotabutment member pivotable with respect to the carrier slide frame, thepivot abutment member being biased with a biasing member toward thecarrier slide path and configured to pivot out of the carrier slide pathso as to allow the egg carrier to interact therewith and move thereby ina first direction within the carrier slide frame, and the pivot abutmentmember being further configured to lock such that the egg carrier isprevented from passing thereby when moving within the carrier slideframe in a second direction opposite the first direction.
 2. An in ovoinjection apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a terminalstop configured to abut the leading end of the egg carrier to form aterminal egg carrier position such that a third subset of the pluralityof avian eggs is in alignment with the respective injection devices forinjection thereof.
 3. An in ovo injection apparatus according to claim2, wherein the terminal stop is positioned at a back end of the carrierslide frame, and the intermediate stop is positioned between the forwardand back ends of the carrier slide frame.
 4. An in ovo injectionapparatus according to claim 3, wherein the carrier slide framecomprises a pair of side rails, and further wherein the initial andterminal stops each comprise at least one abutment member operablyengaged with one of the side rails at the respective one of the forwardand back ends of the carrier slide frame.
 5. An in ovo injectionapparatus according to claim 4, wherein the abutment member of theterminal stop is fixedly engaged with one of the side rails.
 6. An inovo injection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the pivot abutmentmember extends through a slot defined by one of the side rails and intothe carrier slide path as defined between the side rails.